Worked out example
- 1generator, a step-up transformer, transmission cables and a step down
transformer.
- The generator produces 400kW, at 500v, which is fed into transformers T 1 whose
ratio of primary to secondary turns 1:80. The power is then transmitted through
cables whose total resistance is 200Ω to a step-down transformer T 2 .Given that
the efficiency of T1 is 100% and that of T2 is 95%, calculate ;
a) The current through the primary of T1
Solution
Power input = primary current X primary voltage
P = V P XP
1p =
𝑝
𝑣𝑝
=
400×103
500
14 | P a g e
= 800A
b) The voltage across the secondary of T1
𝑉𝑆
𝑉𝑃
= 𝑁𝑆
𝑁𝑃
𝑉𝑆
500 = 80
1
𝑉𝑆 = 80 X 500
= 40000V
= 40KV
c) The voltage across the primary of T2
T1 = 100%
400 x 103= power output
Power input = power output
400 x 103 = 40,000S x 1S
IS =
40 ×103
40,000
= 10 A
- Voltage lost during transmission is obtained from V = IR
v= 10 X 200
= 2000v
.
= (40,000 – 2,000) v
= 38,000 v
d) The maximum power output of T2
Power fed in T2= voltage across primary x current through primary T2
= 38000 X 10
Voltage across
primary of T2
Voltage across
secondary of T2
- Voltage lost during
transmission
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= 380,000W
= 380 kw
Since T2 IS 95 % efficient
95
100
=
𝑃𝑂𝑊𝐸𝑅 𝑂𝑈𝑇𝑃𝑈𝑇
𝑃𝑂𝑊𝐸𝑅 𝐼𝑁𝑃𝑈𝑇
Therefore power output = 95% X power input
=
95
100
X 380 X 103
= 3.61 X 105W
= 361 Kw
Generators
- A generator is a machine for converting mechanical (movement) energy into
electrical energy. Generators make use of electromagnetic induction to produce
an e.m.f. They may be turned by petrol or diesel engines, by energy of flowing
water (hydroelectric power), by steam turbine or by muscle power in the case of
bicycle dynamo.
a) Alternating current (a.c.) generators (Alternator)
- The poles of the magnet are curved so that the magnetic field is radial.
- Current enters and leaves the coil through the brushes, which press against slip-
rings. The brushes are made up of carbon (graphite) which is a good conductor
and is also slippery and acts as a lubricant.
- Consider the coil being rotated in clockwise direction just passing the horizontal
position as in the figure above.
- The side AB of the coil is moving up while the other side CD is moving
downwards. The two sides are cutting the field perpendicularly and thus
maximum e.m.f. (E0 ) is induced.
- Applying Fleming’s right hand rule, the flow of current is in direction
A B C D. This current flows through the external circuit through
the slip-rings 2 and brush X. Brush Y and slip- ring 1 then complete the circuit.
- Brush X is thus positive terminal while Y is negative.
- As the coil rotates from the horizontal to the vertical position, the angle at which
the sides of the coil cut the magnetic field reduces from 90 o to 0o. Consequently,
the induced e.m.f. reduced from maximum Eo to zero.
- At vertical position, the sides of the coil do not cut the magnetic field thus e.m.f is
zero.
side CD moves upwards and the angle 𝜃 at which the sides of the coil cuts the
- When the coil rotates past the vertical position, side AB moves downwards as
magnetic field increases from 00 to 90o when the coil is horizontal. The induced
e.m.f. thus increases from zero to maximum value E0 and the path of current
flow in the coil reverses to D C B A. Brush Y now becomes positive and
negative.
- As the coil rotates further to complete one revolution, the angle at which its sides
cut the magnetic field reduces from 90o to 00 , the e.m.f. in the coil reduces from
EO to zero thus for one cycle, an alternating e.m.f. E is induced in the coil.
- The magnitude of this e.m.f. obeys a sinusoidal equation.
E = EO sin 𝜃 where E, the maximum e.m.f.
𝜃, the inclination of the plane of the coil to the vertical.
Graph of induced e.m.f. against 𝜃 for an a.c. generator.
- The a.c. from the mains in Kenya has a frequency of 50 HZ.
b) Direct current (d.c) generator
- It differs from an a.c. generator in that it has a split- ring (commutators) while an
a.c. generator has slip- rings
- As the coil rotates into the vertical position from the horizontal position with the
side AB moving up, the induced e.m.f. and current through resistor R decreases
from a maximum value to zero. The polarity of brush Y is positive and X negative.
- When the coil is in vertical position, the e.m.f is zero. The brushes touch the gaps
within the commutators.
- When the vertical position is passed, the half -ring exchange brushes since the
induced currents AB and CD change direction, but the direction of current
through the external resistor R remains the same. Brush Y remains positive and X
negative.
- The output of a d.c generator is shown below.
Ways of increasing e.m.f. of generators
i) Increasing the speed of rotation of the coil.
ii) Increasing the number of turns of the coil.
iii) Increasing the strength of the magnetic field.
iv) Winding the coil on a laminated soft iron core.
- In some generators such as the bicycle dynamo, the coil remains stationary while
the magnet rotates. This is advantageous as there are no brushes which get worn
out.
Moving -coil microphone
- A coil is wound on a cylindrical former connected to a diaphragm and placed
Between the poles of a pot of magnet as shown above.
- Sound waves from a source set the diaphragm in vibration, causing the coil to
Move to and fro, cutting the magnetic field.
- The field is radial so that the magnitude sets up varying current in the coil.
- An amplifier is used to increase the amplitude of this current before fed into
Loudspeaker to be converted back to sound.
- The induction coil consists of few turns of thick insulated copper wire and a
Secondary coil of many turns of thin insulated copper wire, both wound on a soft
Iron core.
- The primary coil is connected to a direct current (d.c) source of low voltage.
- When the switch is closed, the soft iron core becomes magnetized due to the
Current in the primary coil and attracts the soft iron armature. The moving
Armature opens the contacts and cut off the primary current, rapidly reducing the
Magnetic field to zero. This in turn induces a large e.m.f. in the secondary coil by
Mutual induction. Meanwhile, the spring pulls the armature back to make contact
Once again for the current to flow in the primary coil. This process repeats itself.
- The switching on and off of the primary current is thus continuous and so in the
Changing magnetic flux.
- The induced e.m.f. in the secondary coil is much higher when the primary current
Is switched off than when it is switched on, because the current takes longer time
To increase from zero to a maximum than to decrease from maximum to zero.
- Sparking may also occur at the contacts due to magnetic field in the primary coil
And fulfilling the Lenz’s law to keep primary current flowing. ! Capacitor
Connected across the contacts minimizes the sparking and causes the primary
Current and hence magnetic flux to decay to zero.
- This increases the magnitude of the induced e.m.f. in the secondary.
- Sparks then jump across the gap between the ends of the secondary coil and can
Be used to ignite petrol-air mixture in a car engine.
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Revision questions
1. State the laws of electromagnetic induction.
2. A power station has an output of 33k Ω of potential difference of 5 kV. !
Transformer with a primary coil of 2000 turns is used to set up the voltage of 132
kV for transmission along a grid. Calculate the;
a) Current in the primary coil.
b) Number of turns of the secondary coil.
c) Current in the secondary coil.
3. A magnet is moved with uniform speed through the coil from point A to point E
As shown below.
a) Draw a sketch graph of readings of galvanometer against positions of the magnet
as it moves from point A to E.
b) Explain why the galvanometer records the readings obtained.
4. A transformer is used to provide a potential difference 1000kv to an x-ray tube
from a 250V a.c. mains supply. A current of 1000 mA flows in the X-ray tube and
the transformer is 100% efficient.
a) calculate;
i) The ratio of number of turns of the secondary to the number of turns of the
primary.
ii) The current in primary coil
b) State giving reasons, which of the coils of the transformer is thick
